Title: The Queen and I - Drottningen och jag (2008) Directed by: Nahid Persson Sarvestani Date of birth: 24 May 1960, Shiraz, Iran Writing credits: Zinat S. Lloyd, Nahid Persson Sarvestani Year: 2007 Country: Sweden Language: Farsi | English Color: Color Runtime: 90 min
In her award-winning documentary Prostitution Behind the Veil, Nahid Persson Sarvestani expressed fierce criticism of the position of women in her native country, Iran. This drove the Islamic regime to accuse the leftist documentary-maker of monarchist sympathies. The reality is, however, that Sarvestani was a revolutionary who helped overthrow the monarchy in the 1979 revolution.
In reaction to the reprimands, she decided to make a film about Farah Pahlavi: the last Iranian queen, widow of the Shah of Iran, her adversary who, like herself, lives in exile abroad.
This leads to a fascinating encounter between two women, with clashing political visions, who develop an improbable friendship over two years of filming. During that period, the two confront each other about their pasts, question their former beliefs, and share their grievances.
However, when the queen finds out that Sarvestani was a communist (and hadnt disclosed that), the filming stopped for six months. After Farah sees the trailer and approves, shooting resumes.
Perhaps out of fear that the 70 year-old former queen will refuse further cooperation, Sarvestani doesnt ask confrontational questions about the Shahs heartless regime. She also feels conflicted about her growing affection for a woman whose husband she so vehemently opposed.
In the end, the unusual relationship grows between the two as they realize they have much in common. They are two strong women who have risen above hardships to continue evolving towards a positive future.
